Container washing apparatus



Dec. 28, 1965 K, PLocK ETAL 3,225,776

CONTAINER WASHING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1964 Fig.

United States Patent O 3,225,776 CONTAlNER WASHING APPARATUS Karl Plock, Dortmund-Lucklemberg, Georg Mertins,

Dortmund-Kerne, and Joachim Ciongwa, Dortmund,

Germany, assignors to Holstein @t Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phnix G.m.h.l1i., Dortmund, Germany Filed Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,543 11 Claims. (Cl. 134-129) The present invention relates to washing apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to Washing machine of the type used to wash articles which are conveyed, such articles being, for example, bottles or other containers.

While it is known to provide conveyers for moving articles of the above type through a washing machine, the output of conventional apparatus of this type is insuiiicient to satisfy the increasing requirements for more rapid washing of articles of this type in modern institutions. Thus, with a conventional apparatus of this type the articles are conveyed intermittently into the washing machine and then while remaining stationary therein the articles are washed and then after the Washing is completed they are conveyed out of the Washing machine and a new batch of articles can be conveyed into the washing machine to he washed therein. Such a machine limits the washing t those periods when the articles are stationary, and this factor has proved to be a serious limitation on the output of suc-h washing machines.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a structure capable of washing articles not only while they are stationary but also while they are moving so that in this way the periods of actual washing are not necessarily limited to those periods when the articles remain stationary, and thus it becomes possible to greatly increase the output of the washing machine.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine which is capable of washing articles while they are moved continuously through the washing machine, so that the invention is not even limited to an apparatus where the articles which are to be washed are m-oved intermittently.

It is furthenmore an object of the present invention to provide a structure which will provide a minimum amount of resistance to movement of a washing apparatus so that the Washing unit -itself can be moved with a minimum amount of energy expended for this purpose.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide for a washing apparatus of the above type a Astructure which will guarantee proper alignment of the washing means with the articles which are being washed and While the articles are being conveyed so that proper washing of the moving articles is guaranteed as a result of the aligning means of the invention.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a structure which can operate continuously and automatically to produce the above results.

Furthermore, the objects of the present invention include the provision of a struct-ure which is capable of acoomplishing all of the above objects and which at the same time is composed of simple rugged ielements which are very reliable in operation and which enable a very large number of articles to be thoroughly and eiliciently washed in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum expenditure of energy.

With these objects in view the invention includes, in a washing machine, a conveyer means for conveying articles wihich are to be washed along a given path. A washing means is provided for washing the articles, and a guide means guides the washing means for movement along a path which is generally parallel to the path of movement 3,225,776 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 of the articles when they are moved by the conveyer means. A reciprocating means is operatively connected to the washing means for reciprocating the latter first in one direction which is the same as the direction of movement of the articles by the conveyer means and then in an opposite direction opposed to the direction of movement of the Iarticles by the conveyer means. Finally, the structure of the invention i-ncludes an aligning means operatively connected to the washing means and engaging the conveyer means for aligning the Washing means with the articles during movement of the washing means in the same direction as the direction of movement of the articles by t-he conveyer means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, bot-h as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of one possible apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic transverse view of tlhe structure of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the washing means illustrated therein includes a relatively at container 1 connected to any suitable source of liquid under pressure so as to form a water box containing the washing liquid which forms the cleaning agent. As will be apparent from the description below the washing means 1-3 reciprocates back and forth, and therefore the interior of the container 1 communicates through flexible lhoses with a suitable source of cleaning liquid under pressure which is supplied in a well known manner through suitable pumps or the like to the interior of the container 1. The interior of the container 1 is in communication with a plurality of pipes 2 which extend horizontally across the top of the container 1 with the ends of each pipe 2 directed downwardly toward and communicating with the interior of the container l so that in this way the liquid under pressure within the container 1 Wil-l ilow up into the series of pipes 2. Along the top of each pipe 2 is arranged a row of spray nozzles 3 so that the cleaning liquid which is under pressure in the container 1 will flow along the interiors of the several pipes 2 and will discharge upwardly through the series of spray nozzles 3 carried by each pipe 2, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 2.

The washing means 1 3 is guided for movement back and forth to the left and right, as viewed in FIG. l, by a guide means described below, and in order to reciprocate the washing means 1-3 it is operatively connected to a reciprocating means by way of a connecting rod 4 which is pivotally connected at its left end, as viewed in FIG. l, to the right end of the washing means 1, as viewed in FIG. 1, while the right end of the connecting rod 4 is fixed with a piston 6 which forms part of the reciprocating means, this piston 6 being slidable within an elongated cylinder 5, which is pivotally mounted at `its right end, as viewed in FIG. 1, on a suitable support, and of course the connecting rod 4 extends through a suitable stuiling box or other sealing gland in the left end of the cylinder 5, as viewed in FlG.l, so that in this way it slides fluid-tightly into and out of the cylinder 5. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment a hydraulic reciprocating means is provided for reciprocating the washing means 1-3 back and forth in a manner described in greater detail below.

The guide means which guides the washing means 1-3 for movement back and forth takes the form of a pair of links 7 connected to the right end of the washing means 1, as viewed in FIG. l, and a pair of links 8 connected to the left end of the washing means 1 3, as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, a pair of identical links or levers 7 are respectively located at the right corners o-f the box 1, as viewed in FIG. l, while a pair of identical links 8 are located at the left corners, as viewed in FIG. 1, and these links 7 and 8 are all of equal length and are identical. The several links 7 and S are pivotally connected at 9 to the box 1 while the lower e-nds of the links 7 and 8 are pivotally connected at 11D to suitable stationary bearings. As a result it will be seen that the Hat washing means or box 1 forms together with the several links 7 and 8 a parallelogram linkage guaranteeing that the flat box 1 will remain horizontal while it reciprocates back and forth, as indicated by the solid and dot-dash line positions of the links 7 and 8 in FIG. 1.

While it is, of course, possible to provide a suitable stationary guide along which the box 1 could, for example, slide back and forth, the illustrated parallelogram linkage is preferred because it provides far less friction than guideways -or the like which Would slidably engage the box, and thus the reciprocating means 5, 6 is required to exert a relatively small amount of energy to reciprocate the washing `means 1 3v back and forth with the particular guide means in the form of a parallelogram linkage.

The articles to be Washed can take the form, for example, of bottles 1d or other containers, for example, and they are supp-orted in a conveyer means in an inverted position with the mouths of the articles 14.- directed downwardly so as to receive the upwardly directed sprays which issue from the nozzles 3. The conveyer means includes a series of transverse supports for respectively supporting rows of bottles 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and it will be noted that the spacing of the nozzles 3 on the top of each pipe 2-is the same as the spacing of the mouths of the bottles 14, so that in this way the sprays will' issue upwardly into the containers for efliciently washing them. The conveyer means includes a pair of endless chains, for example, with the transversely extending carriers for the rows of bottles 14 extending across and supported by the pair of endless chains, and each endless chain includes a plurality of pins 12 pivotally interconnecting the successive links of the chain and also rotatably supporting the rollers 13 which are guided for movement along suitable guiding surfaces so that in this way the conveyer means guides the articles 14 along a given path. With suchan arrangement the operator may place the containers 14 on the conveyer means as the latter continues to move and they remove the cleaned articles from the conveyer means also while the conveyer means continues to move, or if desired, any suitable drive may be connected to the conveyer means for intermittently driving the latter through predetermined increments enabling the articles to be placed on and removed from the conveyer mea-ns while it is stationary.

In accordance with the present invention an aligning means is provided for aligning lthe washing means 1 3 with the articles 14 during the periods when the washing means 1 3 moves in the same direction as the articles 14. Thus, it will be seen from FIG. 1 that the conveyer means moves the articles 14 in a generally horizontal direction to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the reciprocating means 5, 6 Will reciprocate the washing means 1 3 back and forth along a substantially horizontal path which is generally parallel to the path of movement of the articles 14, Iand it will be seen that when the reciprocating means 5, 6 advances the washing means 1 3 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, this washing means is moved in the same direction that the articles are moved by the conveyer means While the reciprocating means 5, 6 can then retract the washing means 1 3 in a direction opposite to the direction fo movement of the articles, and then the reciprocating means will start another cycle where the washing means will again move in the same direction as the articles but will of course be aligned with a different set of articles so as to wash the articles during those periods when the washing means moves in the same direction as the articles, so that in this way it is possible with the invention to wash the articles as they are moved through the washing machine and thus it is not necessary to limit the washing action to those periods when the articles remain stationary.

In the illustrated example the aligning means of the invention takes the form of a plurality of levers 11 pivotally carried by the box 1. A plurality of blocks 15 are also fixedly carried by the box 1, and these blocks 15 .are located in the path of clockwise turning of the levers 11, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that the blocks 1S respectively form a plurality of limiting means limiti-ng the turning of the plurality of aligning levers 11 in a clockwise direction relative to the box 1, as viewed in FiG. l. The elevation of the washing box 1 has with respect to the conveyer means 12, 13 such a relationship that the length of the `levers 11 is suflicient to enable them to reach up from the washing box 1 and engage pins 12, respectively, although of course the structure could be designed so that the aligning means 11 engage elements diiferent from the pins 12. The location of the levers 11 on the box 1 is such that when the levers 11 engage the pins 12 at the right faces thereof, as viewed in FIG. l, the pipes 2 will be respectively aligned with the rows of articles 14, and since the distribution of the nozzles 3 along the pipes 2, corresponds tothe distribution of the articles 14 in each row it follows that with this arrangement the nozzles 3 will be respectively aligned with the articles 14. The reciprocating means 5, 6 operates in such a way that while it urges the washing means 1 3 to the left, as viewed in FIG. l, the force wit-h which the washing means is moved to the left by the reciprocating means 5, 6 is insufficient to provide any appreciable tension on the conveyer means and instead -is sufcient only to maintain the levers 11 in engagement with the pins 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1, so that with this arrangement the washing means 1 3 will simply follow the conveyer means as it advances the articles to the left. The moving means 5, 6 cannot advance the washing means 1 3 to the left with respect to the conveyer means 12 when the parts have the position shown in FIG. l because the levers 11 by engaging the pins 12 -on the one hand and the blocks 15 on the other hand prevent movement of the box 1 at a rate faster than the movement of the conveyer means itself.

As may be seen from FIG. l suitable stationary elements 16 are respectively connected to springs 17 which are in turn respectively connected to the levers 11 for urging the latter to turn in a clockwise direction into engagement With the pins 15. As a result, when the piston 6 advances to the right within the cylinder 5, as viewed in FIG. l, the levers 11 can engage with their top ends pins 12 while swinging in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1 and as shown in dot-dash lines, and as soon as each lever 11 moves beyond a pin 12 the spring 17 connected thereto will limmediately return the lever 11' to its upright position. It will be noted that the top ends of the levers 11 are inclined to enable them to slide easily past the pins 12 during the return movement of the washing means 1 3 to the right, as viewed in FIG. l.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically one possible arrangement for automatically controlling the reciprocation of the washing means 1 3 by the reciprocating means 5, 6. Thus, it will be seen that a pair o-f conduits 20' and 21 respectively communicate with the left and right ends of the cylinder 5, as viewed in FIG. 1. These conduits 20 and 21 in turn communicate wit-hafounway valve 22 which communicates With the pressure outlet of a pump 23y as well as with a low-pressure return line 25 which returns hydraulic iluid to the reservoir or tank 24 from which the pump 2.3y sucks the hydraulic iluid which may be a suitable oil, for example. Connected between the pressure outlet ofy the pump 23 and. the. return conduit 5 25 is an adjustable pressure relief valve 26 of known :construction which can be set to connect the outlet of the pump 23 directly to the returnilow conduit 25 whenever the pressure -in the discharge pipe of the pump 23 reaches a given value.

The parts are shown in FIG. 1 in the position they have just at the moment when the valve 22 has been turned in a counterclockwise direction to the illustrated position placing the discharge of the pump 23 in communication with the conduit 20 and the return flow conduit 25 in communication with the conduit 21, so that the continuously driven pump 23, which is continuously driven fnom any suitable motor o-r the like, will now provide the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the left end of the cylinder 5 for advancing the piston 6 to the right in order to retract the washing means 1-3 back to the starting position where the piston 6 is located adjacent the right end of the cylinder 5. At this time because there is very little resistance to movement of the Washing means 1-3 as a result of the tlever means 7 and 8 which support the washing means 1-3 with very little resistance to movement thereof and as a result o-f the levers 11 which can move with very little resistance past the pins 12, the washing means 1-3 is quickly and easily returned with very little expenditure of energy to the right back to the starting position indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. l, and in the meantime the conveyer means continues to advance the articles 14 to the left, as viewed in FIG.1, the rate of movement of the conveyer means being such that during the next movement f t-he washing means 1-3 to the left the pipes 2 will be aligned with the next three rows of containers 14, it being understood that as many pipes 2 may be provided as desired and three pipes `are shown in the drawings only by way of example. When the piston 6 reaches the right end of the cyvlinder 5 the valve 22 will be automatically turned, in a manner described below, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, to a position placing the conduit 20 in communication with the return ow conduit 25 and the discharge of the pump 23 in communication with the pipe 21, so that now the washing means 1-3 will be advanced to the left in the same direction that the articles 14 are moved by the conveyer means. The washing means 1-3 will move with substantially no resistance until tlhe levers 11 engage the pins 12, and such engagement takes place after a very short amount of movement of the washing means 1-3. Thereafter, the pressure which is regulated by the valve 26 is such that it will maintain the levers 11 in engagement with the pins so as to maintain the washing means in proper alignment with the articles 14, but without an excessive force since any excess pressure will simply cause tlhe valve 26 to open so that in this way the structure operates to maintain the washing means in alignment with the articles while moving with the latter and while exerting a very light force on the conveyer means itself. When the part-s reach the solid line position shown in FIG. 1 the valve 22 is again returned to tlhe position shown in FIG. l and the above cycle of yoperations is repeated. It will be noted that during movement of the washing means 1-3 in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the articles 14 the sprays from the nozziles 3 are directed against the exteriors of the articles 14 to very thoroughly clean these exteriors, while during movement of the washing means 1-3 in the same direction as the articles 14 these articles are very thoroughly cleaned at their interiors.

In the illustrated example the valve 22 is turned by a pinion 27 which is xed coaxially to the rotary valve member and which meshes with a rack 28 which is fixed to and insulated from an elongated armature 29 of a solenoid coil 30 which is tlocated in a circuit 33 described below. When the solenoid 30 is unenergized the spring 31 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 retracts the armature 29 together with the rack 28 to the left, as viewed in FIG. l, until the aramture 29 engages a stationary stop member 32, and in this position the rack 28 and pinion 27 locate the valve 22 in the illustrated position. When the solenoid 3G is energized the armature 29 is pulled in opposition to the spring 31 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, causing the rack 28 to turn the pinion 27 and the valve member therewith in a clockwise direction through an angle of placing the pump in communication with the conduit 21 and the conduit 20 in communication with the return flow conduit 25.

The circuit 33 in which the solenoid coil 30 is located is supplied with energy from any suitable source such as the battery 34, and this circuit includes the relay coil 35a which cooperates with a normally open switch 35b. the link or lever 7 which is shown in FIG. 1 is insulated from and carries a contact 36 which is connected into the circuit through a flexible elongated conductor in the manner shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, and the circuit further includes a stationary contact 37 wlhich is engaged by the contact 36 when the lever 7 shown in FIG. 1 has turned in a clockwise direction to the dot-dash line position which it takes when the piston 6 is at the right end of the cylinder 5.

The switch 35b carries a projection 38 which is engaged by the projection 39 of the lever 7 when the ilatter returns to the illustrated solid-line position shown in FIG. l so that in thi-s way the switch 35h is automatically opened. As is apparent from FIG. l the contacts 36, 37 are connected in parallel with the switch 35k, while this switch 35h is connected in series with the solenoid coil 30, the relay coil 35a, and the battery 34.

It is apparent that in the illustrated position the circuit 33 is open and the'solenoid is unenergized so that the spring 31 maintains the armature 29 in engagement lwith the stop 32 and thus the rack 28 cooperates with the pinion 27 for placing the valve 22 in the illustrated position where the piston 6 will 'be advanced to the right. As soo-n as the advance of the washing means to the right is sucient to cause the contact 36 which is carried by the lever 7 to engage the contact 37, the circuit 33 will be closed and the solenoid coil 30 will be energized to advance the armature 29 to the right, thus causing the rack 28 to turn the pinion 27 and the valve in a clockwise direction through 90 thus neversing the direction of ilow of the hydraulic liquid in the cylinder 5. This will of course cause the lever 7 to return toward the illustrated solid line position thereof, separating the contact 36 from the contaict 37, but the holding relay 35a, 35b will remain energized so as to maintain the circuit through the solenoid 30 closed and thus the valve 22 will be maintained in the position where the liquid under pressure is delivered to the right end of the cylinder 5, advancing the waslhing means 1-3 to the left in the manner described above. However, as soon as the lever 7 reaches the position illustrated in FIG. l the projection 39 thereof will engage the projection 38 in order to positively open the switch 35h, thus opening the circuit 33 and deenergizing the coil 30 so that the spring 31 will now return the valve to the position illustrated in FIG. l, and the movement of the piston 6 will thus be reversed.

Of course, it is possible to use other drives for reciprocating the Washing means 1-3. For example, a purely mechanical crank drive may be connected to the washing means 1-3 for reciprocating the latter back and forth, and such a crank drive may be driven through a suitable slip clutch which would enable the levers 11 to engage the pins 12 and thus cause the washing means 1-3 to follow the conveyer means while being maintained in alignment with the articles 14, as described above. However, the hydraulic structure described above and shown in the drawing is preferred because or" its simplicity and reliability as well as because of its inherent yieldability and capability of exerting only a light force on the conveyer means while maintaining the washing means 1-3 in alignment with the articles 14.

It will 4be understood that each of the el-ernents described above, or two or more together, may also nd a useful 'i7 application in other types of washing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in machines for washing moving articles, it is not intended t-o be Ilimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made witout departing in any way from the spirit of t-he present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from, the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invenltion and, therefore, such adaptations shouild and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles `along a given path; washing means for washing the articles; resiliently actuated reciprocating means operatively connected toy said Washing means for moving the latter independently of said conveyor means first in one direction along the same general path and in the same general direction as the articles wthile the latter are conveyed by isaid conveyer means but at a rate of speed different from lthe speed of said conveyer means and then in an opposite direction opposed to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and aligning means carried by said washing means and engaging part of said conveyer means during movement of said washing means by said resiliently actuated reciprocating means in said one direction for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at t-he same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with said articles to wash the latter during part of the movement of the articles along said path by said conveyer means.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path; washing means for washing the articles; resiliently actuated reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for moving the latter independently of said conveyer means tirst in the same general direction as the articles while the latter are conveyed by said conveyer means but at a rate of speed different than the speed of said conveyer means and then in an opposite direction; and lever means turnably carried by said washing means and engaging said conveyer means during movement of said washing means in the same direction as the articles for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with said articles to wash the latter, said lever means adapted to yield during movement of said washing means in said opposite direction.

3. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path; washing means for washing the articles; guide means for guiding said washing means for movement along a path substantially parallel to the path of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; resiliently actuated reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for reciprocating the latter independently of said conveyer means tirst in one direction in the same direction as the movement of the articles by said conveyer means but at a rate of speed different than the speed of said conveyer means and then in an opposite direction opposite to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said conveyer means for coupling said Washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with saidconveyer 8 means during movement of said washing means in the same direction as the articles which are conveyed by said conveyer means.

4. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path; washing means for washing the articles; guide means operatively connected to said washing means for guiding the latter for movement in a path generallyy parallel to the path of movement of the articles when the latter are moved by said conveyer means; reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for reciprocating the latter rst in one direction which is the same as the direction of movement of the articles when moved by said conveyer means and then in an opposite direction opposed to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; a plurality of levers turnably carried by said washing means and extending from the latter into engagement with portions, respectively, of said conveyer means, said moving means when moving said washing means in said one direction tending to turn said levers in a given direction relative to said washing means; limiting means operatively connected to said levers, respectively, for limiting the turning of the latter in said one direction during movement of said washing means in said one direction, whereby said levers can cooperate with said portions of said conveyer means for aligning said washing means with the articles to wash the latter while they are moved by said conveyer means, said limiting means providing no obstruction to movement of said levers in an opposite direction relative to said washing means when the'latter is moved in said direction opposite to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and spring means operatively connected to said levers for urging the latter into engagement with said limiting means, whereby whenever the washing means moves in the same direction as the articles said levers align said washing means with said articles while providing no impediment to the return of said washing means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the articles.

5. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path; washing means for washing the articles; resiliently actuated linear hydraulic reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for reciprocating the latter independ ently of said conveyer means iirst in one direction which is the same as the direction of movement of the articles when they are moved by said conveyer means but at a rate of speed different than the speed of said conveyer means and then in an opposite direction opposed to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said conveyer means for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with the articles during movement of said washing means in said one direction by said hydraulic moving means.

6. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path and including a plurality of pins projecting laterally from at least one side of said conveyer means; washing means for washing articles conveyed by said conveyer means; resiliently actuated reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for reciprocating the latter independently of said conveyer means first in one direction which is the same as the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means but at a rate of speed diierent than the speed of said conveyer and then in an opposed direction opposed to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said pins of said conveyer means for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said Washing means with the articles during movement of said washing means in the same direction as the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means.

7. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path and including a plurality of pins projecting laterally from at least one side of said conveyer means; washing means for washing articles conveyed by said conveyer means; reciprocating means operatively connected to said washing means for reciprocating the latter independently of said conveyer means first in one direction which is the same as the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means at a rate of speed different than the speed of said conveyer and then in an opposed direction opposed to the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said pins of said conveyer means for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with the articles during movement of said washing means in the same direction as the direction of movement of the articles by said conveyer means, said aligning means including a plurality of levers turnably carried by said washing means and engaging said pins, and a plurality of stop members carried by said washing means and engaging said levers to limit the turning movement thereof when they engage said pins and when said washing means is moved in the same direction as said articles so that the stop members and levers cooperate with said pins to maintain the Washing means moving at the same rate as the articles while maintaining the washing means in alignment with the articles so that the articles can be washed simultaneously with their movement by the conveyer means.

8. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying a plurality of containers such as bottles or the like along a given path with the containers in an inverted position so that the mouths of the containers are directly downwardly; washing means located beneath the containers for directing sprays of a suitable cleaning agent upwardly into the containers through the mouths thereof for washing the containers; lever means supporting the washing means for movement along a path generally parallel to the path of movement of the containers; resiliently actuated reciprocating means operatively connected to the washing means for reciprocating the latter independently of said conveyer means rst in the same direction as the direction of movement of the containers at a rate of speed dilerent than the speed of said conveyer and then in an opposite direction opposed to the direction of movement of the containers; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said conveyer means for coupling said washing means to said conveyer means for movement therewith at the same speed in said one direction so as to align said washing means with the mouths of the containers during movement of said washing means in the same direction as the containers.

9. In a washing machine, in combination, a conveyer arrangement for conveying articles along a given path and at a given speed in one direction; washing means for washing said articles conveyed by said conveyer arrangement, said washing means being mounted for reciprocating movement along said conveyer arrangement and being adapted to Wash said articles when reciprocating in said one direction at said given speed; resiliently actuated reciprocating means resiliently tending to move said washing means in said one direction along a predetermined portion of said path at a speed greater than said given speed and moving said washing means in opposite direction along said path portion after having reached one end thereof; and aligning means arranged between said conveyer arrangement and one of said aforementioned means and connected to the same in such a manner so as to reduce the speed of movement of said washing means in said one direction to said given speed when said washing means are aligned in a desired manner with said articles to be washed while adapted to yieldably permit movement of said washing means in said opposite direction, whereby said reciprocating means may move said Washing means in said opposite direction during continued movement of said conveyer arrangement in said one direction.

10. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path and at a given speed in one direction; washing means for washing said articles conveyed by said conveyer means, said washing means being mounted for reciprocating movement along said conveyer means and being adapted to wash said articles when reciprocating in said one direction at said given speed; resiliently actuated reciprocating means resiliently tending to move said washing means in said one direction along a predetermined portion of said path at a speed greater than said given speed and moving said washing means in opposite direction along said path portion at a speed greater than said given speed; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said conveyer means during movement of said washing means in said one direction so as to reduce the speed of movement of said washing means in said one direction to said given speed when said washing means are aligned in a desired manner with said articles to be washed while yieldably permitting movement of said washing means in said opposite direction, whereby said reciprocating means may move said washing means in said opposite direction during continued movement of said conveyor means in said lone direction.

11. In a washing machine, in combination, conveyer means for conveying articles along a given path and at a given speed in one direction; washing means for washing said articles conveyed by said conveyer means, said washing means being mounted for reciprocating movement along said conveyer means and being adapted to wash said articles when reciprocating in said one direction at said given speed; resiliently actuated linear hydraulic reciprocating means resiliently tending to move said washing means in said one direction along a predetermined portion of said path at a speed greater than said given speed and moving said washing means in opposite direction along said path portion at a speed greater than said given speed; and aligning means operatively connected to said washing means and engaging said conveyer means during movement of said washing means in said one direction so as to reduce the speed of movement of said washing means in said one direction to said given speed when said Washing means are aligned in a desired manner with said articles to be washed while adapted to yieldably permit movement of said washing means in said opposite direction, whereby said reciprocating means may move said washing means in said opposite direction during continued movement of said conveyer means in said one direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,504 3/1905 Rubin 134-72 X 1,144,023 6/1915 Beutlich 134-129 X 1,466,141 8/ 1923 Miller 134--129 1,879,770 9/1932 Simonsson 134-129 2,133,481 10/1938 Schroeder 134-72 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE I. NORTH, Examiner. 

1. IN WASHING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, CONVEYER MEANS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES ALONG A GIVEN PATH; WASHING MEANS FOR WASHING THE ARTICLES; RESILIENTLY ACTUATED RECIPROCATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WASHING MEANS FOR MOVING THE LATTER INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION ALONG THE SAME GENERAL PATH AND IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION AS THE ARTICLES WHILE THE LATTER ARE CONVEYED BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS BUT AT A RATE OF SPEED DIFFERENT FROM THE SPEED OF SAID CONVEYER MEANS AND THEN IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OPPOSED TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES BY SAID CONVEYER MEANS; AND ALIGNING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID WASHING MEANS AND ENGAGING PART OF SAID CONVEYOER MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID WASHING MEANS BY SAID RESILIENTLY ACTUATED RECIPROCATING MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION FOR COUPLING SAID WASHING MEANS TO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITHIN AT THE SAME SPEED IN SAID ONE DIRECTION SO AS TO ALIGN SAID WASHING MEANS WITH SAID ARTICLES TO WASH THE LATTER DURING PART OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES ALONG SAID PATH BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS. 